Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Livestock management and conservation in Kenya.

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Descriptions & Plan

Kenya’s herds are creating hurdles.

Boasting a scenic landscape and extensive wildlife, northern Kenya supports a critical population of wild dogs, the second-largest elephant population in Kenya, and one third of Kenya’s rhino population, as well as endangered northern savanna species such as the Grevy’s zebra.

The region’s pastoralist communities rely heavily on livestock for their livelihoods, resulting in large herds that, through drought or other catastrophic events, may just as suddenly be depleted. This model of production creates significant economic and environmental risk.

Blending livestock sales and land management to benefit the community.

The 90,000-acre private Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a financially self-sustaining conservation area that incorporates cattle ranching and meat processing. With a loan from AWF’s impact-investment subsidiary, African Wildlife Capital (AWC), Ol Pejeta is pioneering a commercial trading partnership with its pastoralist neighbors whereby it purchases “finished” livestock from communities and on-sells it to its established distribution channels.

In addition to providing pastoralists access to high-value livestock markets and creating a regular flow of income from budget-based herd management, the project provides training on sound grazing management. It further creates incentives for pastoralists to tolerate wildlife, especially lions. Under the terms of the investment, bound by AWC’s conservation covenants, and with benefits for wildlife conservation and improvements in human livelihoods, it’s a win–win for all involved.

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Reason #21 to get involved

African Wildlife Foundation is devoted entirely to, and ever-present in, African wildlife conservation and sustainable development—recognizing and responding to critical threats in a multifaceted way. Help all of Africa, the wildlife, the communities, and the future.

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Reason #45 to get involved

Due to loss of habitat, deforestation, and hunting, duikers now number less than 15,000. The species population is estimated to have dropped 30% over the past 15 years. Without intervention, this decline shows no sign of reversing.

Reason #71 to get involved

In the early 1900s, 500,000 black rhinos roamed Africa. Today, the population stands around 29,000. When you support African Wildlife Foundation, you aid in the conservation and growth of endangered species like the rhino.

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Reason #82 to get involved

Adapting to their recent human neighbors, vervet monkeys steal food and raid crops. As a result, humans mass-poison the monkeys to defend their food sources. Help is needed to establish a buffer zone so both humans and monkeys can coexist.

Reason #68 to get involved

The impala-like kobs inhabit low-lying hills with permanent water sources, restricting them to regions rapidly being populated by humans. Without any designated buffer zones, this vulnerable species is being hunted at an alarming rate.